Leicester expert in top 50 list of innovators driving transition to net zero 

An Earth observation expert from the University of Leicester has been named one of the UK’s top 50 innovators who are driving the transition to net zero.

Professor Heiko Balzter was ranked third in the academic category, and 18th overall in the Net Zero 50 Awards, sponsored by CGI and Green Business Journal.

His work seeks to deliver research evidence that is policy-relevant and contributes to a safer world in which catastrophic climate change is avoided by bringing down greenhouse gas emissions.

Professor Balzter, who is Director of the Institute for Environmental Futures and member of the National Centre for Earth Observation said: “I was flattered to be in the top five academics in the Net Zero 50 list, and placed 18th overall, however this was not just recognition of my work, but that of my team, who I am incredibly proud of.

“These rankings provide further evidence of the quality of the University of Leicester’s net zero research.”

The Net Zero 50 judges were impressed with Professor Balzter’s impact on the UK’s net zero efforts over the past year through his role as co-lead of the Land Use for Net Zero, Nature and People (LUNZ) Hub. The hub aims to mobilise and support research that works in partnership with government and industry to tackle net zero through action in the UK land sectors.

Through the LUNZ Hub, he is principal investigator on a project which has developed a self-learning digital ‘twin’ of the UK that harnesses artificial intelligence and big data to meet its net zero target.

Emissions from cattle and sheep farming and degraded peatlands together contribute about 10% of the UK’s emissions. The researchers have been working together with industry leaders and the farming community to deliver intelligent computer code that can produce advice how to reduce these emissions.